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Psychotherapy
An insightful exploration of the tenets of psychotherapy, from lauded Jungian psychologist Marie-Louise von Franz
In twelve essays—eight of which appear here in English for the first time—the internationally known analyst Marie-Louise von Franz explores important aspects of psychotherapy from a Jungian perspective. She draws on her many years of practical experience in psychotherapy, her intimate knowledge of Jung's methods and theories, and her wide-ranging interests in fields such as mythology, alchemy, science, and religion to illumine these varied
• Projection
• Transference
• Dream interpretation
• Self-realization
• Group psychology
• Personality types
• Active imagination
• The therapeutic use of hallucinogenic drugs
• The choice of psychotherapy as a profession
• The role of religious experience in psychological healing
In twelve essays—eight of which appear here in English for the first time—the internationally known analyst Marie-Louise von Franz explores important aspects of psychotherapy from a Jungian perspective. She draws on her many years of practical experience in psychotherapy, her intimate knowledge of Jung's methods and theories, and her wide-ranging interests in fields such as mythology, alchemy, science, and religion to illumine these varied
• Projection
• Transference
• Dream interpretation
• Self-realization
• Group psychology
• Personality types
• Active imagination
• The therapeutic use of hallucinogenic drugs
• The choice of psychotherapy as a profession
• The role of religious experience in psychological healing
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 1993
33 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
Marie-Louise von Franz
81 books856 followersMarie-Louise von Franz was a Swiss Jungian psychologist and scholar.
Von Franz worked with Carl Jung, whom she met in 1933 and knew until his death in 1961. Jung believed in the unity of the psychological and material worlds, i.e., they are one and the same, just different manifestations. He also believed that this concept of the unus mundus could be investigated through research on the archetypes of the natural numbers. Due to his age, he turned the problem over to von Franz. Two of her books, Number and Time and Psyche and Matter, deal with this research.
Von Franz, in 1968, was the first to publish that the mathematical structure of DNA is analogous to that of the I Ching. She cites the reference to the publication in an expanded essay "Symbols of the Unus Mundus," published in her book Psyche and Matter. In addition to her many books, Von Franz recorded a series of films in 1987 titled The Way of the Dream with her student Fraser Boa.
Von Franz founded the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich. In The Way of the Dream she claims to have interpreted over 65,000 dreams. Von Franz also wrote over 20 volumes on Analytical psychology, most notably on fairy tales as they relate to Archetypal or Depth Psychology, most specifically by amplification of the themes and characters. She also wrote on subjects such as alchemy, discussed from the Jungian, psychological perspective, and active imagination, which could be described as conscious dreaming. In Man and His Symbols, von Franz described active imagination as follows: "Active imagination is a certain way of meditating imaginatively, by which one may deliberately enter into contact with the unconscious and make a conscious connection with psychic phenomena."
Von Franz worked with Carl Jung, whom she met in 1933 and knew until his death in 1961. Jung believed in the unity of the psychological and material worlds, i.e., they are one and the same, just different manifestations. He also believed that this concept of the unus mundus could be investigated through research on the archetypes of the natural numbers. Due to his age, he turned the problem over to von Franz. Two of her books, Number and Time and Psyche and Matter, deal with this research.
Von Franz, in 1968, was the first to publish that the mathematical structure of DNA is analogous to that of the I Ching. She cites the reference to the publication in an expanded essay "Symbols of the Unus Mundus," published in her book Psyche and Matter. In addition to her many books, Von Franz recorded a series of films in 1987 titled The Way of the Dream with her student Fraser Boa.
Von Franz founded the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich. In The Way of the Dream she claims to have interpreted over 65,000 dreams. Von Franz also wrote over 20 volumes on Analytical psychology, most notably on fairy tales as they relate to Archetypal or Depth Psychology, most specifically by amplification of the themes and characters. She also wrote on subjects such as alchemy, discussed from the Jungian, psychological perspective, and active imagination, which could be described as conscious dreaming. In Man and His Symbols, von Franz described active imagination as follows: "Active imagination is a certain way of meditating imaginatively, by which one may deliberately enter into contact with the unconscious and make a conscious connection with psychic phenomena."
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 29, 2022
The collection is full of psychotherapeutic bangers, and buying this book is probably the easiest way to get your hands on her incredible essay about the inferior function (It's hard to find that lectures on typology book she did with Hillman).
An indispensable text for Jungians, although likely a bit dated and/or abstract for your average psychotherapist/aspirant.
An indispensable text for Jungians, although likely a bit dated and/or abstract for your average psychotherapist/aspirant.
June 10, 2023
Marie Louise von Franz is a brilliant thinker and an astonishing interpreter. Her analysis of psychological types is fascinating, as is every discussion in this book. It may be worth noting that it is better to know at least some of Jung's writings in order to understand the world of terms. In addition, the book deals with the more religious and esoteric sides of Jung's theory, sometimes surprisingly so.
October 31, 2010
I’m such a fan of Marie-Louise von Franz, I knew I’d love this book. The final chapter, on the subject of the Puer Aeternus (the eternal child) spoke more to me about “how to grow up” than entire books I’ve read on the subject. Also, the book contained chapters on transference and projection which, I feel, explained projection more clearly and concisely than did another von Franz book which bore the title Projection and Re-Collection in Jungian Psychology.
There’s a long chapter on “The Inferior Function.” I remember taking the Jungian “Myers Briggs” test when I was a student, to show me what careers would fit my dominant function. Franz looks at the inferior function and explores how it impacts our personalities and our relationships. I found it really interesting.
Here are some quotes from the book:
On the subject of the Puer Aeternus / Puella Aeternus, the eternal child:
“All other typical adolescent features can also be observed: the tendency toward adopting a highly provisory lifestyle, dreaming at the same time the fantasy of a ‘real’ creative life, but undertaking very little to bring it about. Savior ideas usually play a major or minor role in this. These might take the form of a man’s thinking that he is the messiah who is going to save humanity, or at least that he is on the verge of being able to utter ‘the last word’ in matters of philosophy, art, or politics. Reality as it is he experiences as unacceptable. The patience-exacting humdrum of everyday life as well sustained efforts toward achievement are avoided, and everywhere – in the man’s profession, with the woman he lives with, with his colleagues – he finds a ‘hair in the soup,’ as a result of which again and again a sudden and arbitrary breaking off of all relations can be observed.”
“Thus conscious recognition of the anima means loving the other for herself and for love’s sake. ‘When I follow my love, then my love is fulfilled.’ Only for a man who pursues the anima for her own sake does she become Beatrice. For such a man she becomes a bridge to the transcendental realms. … For the animus what counts is insight or truth for truth’s sake over and against any admixture of sensuality or power craving. Only a woman who loves the truth for its own sake can integrate the animus, and then he becomes, like the anima, a bridge to the Self, that is, to the knowledge of the Self. And when two people in a relationship with each other are on the path of a reciprocal individuation process, then the motif of the coniunctio of the suprapersonal couple is constellated.”
On dreams:
“It has often happened that I have been profoundly shaken by a patient’s dream that he himself is recounting in a very cool and matter-of-fact way. I have learned in such cases not to hide my own feelings, not to hide how deeply touched I am emotionally, but to express it. In my experience this has always had a positive effect. Jung himself always had strong emotional reactions to dreams. He reacted to the dreams people brought to him with laughter, outcries of fear, ill humor, or excitement, and often his reaction would trigger in a patient a realization of what the dream was really about.”
“… Perhaps this dream conveys an inkling of why we of the Jungian school are skeptical of group therapy. This dream shows that the main process of inner development takes place between the ego and the Self – or, in old-fashioned language, the image of God within one. Others and their opinions have no business there. It even comes to a point where even the analyst as one’s partner is too much. Ultimately, as Jung points out, a person has to ‘be alone if he is to find out what it is that bears him when he cannot bear himself anymore. Only this experience can give him an indestructible foundation.’”
On the inferior function:
“Jung once said that your opposite type is not the hardest thing to understand. That is, if you have introverted feeling, it is very difficult to understand an extraverted thinking type, but it is even harder to understand someone of the same functional type with the other attitude. That means it would be most difficult for an introverted feeling type to understand an extraverted feeling type. There one feels that one does not know how the wheels go around in that person’s head; one cannot feel one’s way into it. Such people remain to a great extent a puzzle and are very difficult to understand spontaneously. That is why the whole theory of types is tremendously important practically, for it is the only thing which can prevent one from completely misunderstanding certain other people.”
“It is even more difficult, as I said, to understand the same function type with the other attitude. There one can really only use theory to understand the other, because with one’s spontaneous reactions one cannot. In general, in the realm of the inferior function, people are afraid of each other, terribly afraid, because they feel helpless.”
“The inferior function is generally slow in contrast to the superior function. Jung calls it infantile and tyrannical. This slowness is in fact one of the great troubles of the inferior function, which is one reason why people hate to start work on it, for the reaction of the superior function comes out quickly and well adapted while many people have no idea where their inferior function really is. For instance, thinking types have no idea whether they have feeling or what kind of feeling it is. They have to sit for half an hour and meditate as to whether they have any feeling about something … Or if an intuitive fells out a tax form, he needs a week where other people would take a day. He simply cannot do it, or if he does it accurately, he takes forever. I know an introverted intuitive woman – to go with her to choose a blouse! Never again! It takes an eternity, until the whole shop is mad! But it cannot be speeded up, and it does not help to get impatient. It is terrible, and naturally that is so discouraging about developing the inferior function, because one has not the time.”
“Most people, when the question of their inferior function is in any way touched upon, become terribly childish and touchy; they can’t stand the slightest criticism but always feel attacked, for they are uncertain of themselves and, with that, narually they tyrannize everybody around them; everybody has to walk carefully. If you want to say something about another person’s inferior function, it is like walking on eggs, for people just cannot stand any criticism there, and a rite d’entrée is required, waiting for the right moment for a peaceful atmosphere.”
There’s a long chapter on “The Inferior Function.” I remember taking the Jungian “Myers Briggs” test when I was a student, to show me what careers would fit my dominant function. Franz looks at the inferior function and explores how it impacts our personalities and our relationships. I found it really interesting.
Here are some quotes from the book:
On the subject of the Puer Aeternus / Puella Aeternus, the eternal child:
“All other typical adolescent features can also be observed: the tendency toward adopting a highly provisory lifestyle, dreaming at the same time the fantasy of a ‘real’ creative life, but undertaking very little to bring it about. Savior ideas usually play a major or minor role in this. These might take the form of a man’s thinking that he is the messiah who is going to save humanity, or at least that he is on the verge of being able to utter ‘the last word’ in matters of philosophy, art, or politics. Reality as it is he experiences as unacceptable. The patience-exacting humdrum of everyday life as well sustained efforts toward achievement are avoided, and everywhere – in the man’s profession, with the woman he lives with, with his colleagues – he finds a ‘hair in the soup,’ as a result of which again and again a sudden and arbitrary breaking off of all relations can be observed.”
“Thus conscious recognition of the anima means loving the other for herself and for love’s sake. ‘When I follow my love, then my love is fulfilled.’ Only for a man who pursues the anima for her own sake does she become Beatrice. For such a man she becomes a bridge to the transcendental realms. … For the animus what counts is insight or truth for truth’s sake over and against any admixture of sensuality or power craving. Only a woman who loves the truth for its own sake can integrate the animus, and then he becomes, like the anima, a bridge to the Self, that is, to the knowledge of the Self. And when two people in a relationship with each other are on the path of a reciprocal individuation process, then the motif of the coniunctio of the suprapersonal couple is constellated.”
On dreams:
“It has often happened that I have been profoundly shaken by a patient’s dream that he himself is recounting in a very cool and matter-of-fact way. I have learned in such cases not to hide my own feelings, not to hide how deeply touched I am emotionally, but to express it. In my experience this has always had a positive effect. Jung himself always had strong emotional reactions to dreams. He reacted to the dreams people brought to him with laughter, outcries of fear, ill humor, or excitement, and often his reaction would trigger in a patient a realization of what the dream was really about.”
“… Perhaps this dream conveys an inkling of why we of the Jungian school are skeptical of group therapy. This dream shows that the main process of inner development takes place between the ego and the Self – or, in old-fashioned language, the image of God within one. Others and their opinions have no business there. It even comes to a point where even the analyst as one’s partner is too much. Ultimately, as Jung points out, a person has to ‘be alone if he is to find out what it is that bears him when he cannot bear himself anymore. Only this experience can give him an indestructible foundation.’”
On the inferior function:
“Jung once said that your opposite type is not the hardest thing to understand. That is, if you have introverted feeling, it is very difficult to understand an extraverted thinking type, but it is even harder to understand someone of the same functional type with the other attitude. That means it would be most difficult for an introverted feeling type to understand an extraverted feeling type. There one feels that one does not know how the wheels go around in that person’s head; one cannot feel one’s way into it. Such people remain to a great extent a puzzle and are very difficult to understand spontaneously. That is why the whole theory of types is tremendously important practically, for it is the only thing which can prevent one from completely misunderstanding certain other people.”
“It is even more difficult, as I said, to understand the same function type with the other attitude. There one can really only use theory to understand the other, because with one’s spontaneous reactions one cannot. In general, in the realm of the inferior function, people are afraid of each other, terribly afraid, because they feel helpless.”
“The inferior function is generally slow in contrast to the superior function. Jung calls it infantile and tyrannical. This slowness is in fact one of the great troubles of the inferior function, which is one reason why people hate to start work on it, for the reaction of the superior function comes out quickly and well adapted while many people have no idea where their inferior function really is. For instance, thinking types have no idea whether they have feeling or what kind of feeling it is. They have to sit for half an hour and meditate as to whether they have any feeling about something … Or if an intuitive fells out a tax form, he needs a week where other people would take a day. He simply cannot do it, or if he does it accurately, he takes forever. I know an introverted intuitive woman – to go with her to choose a blouse! Never again! It takes an eternity, until the whole shop is mad! But it cannot be speeded up, and it does not help to get impatient. It is terrible, and naturally that is so discouraging about developing the inferior function, because one has not the time.”
“Most people, when the question of their inferior function is in any way touched upon, become terribly childish and touchy; they can’t stand the slightest criticism but always feel attacked, for they are uncertain of themselves and, with that, narually they tyrannize everybody around them; everybody has to walk carefully. If you want to say something about another person’s inferior function, it is like walking on eggs, for people just cannot stand any criticism there, and a rite d’entrée is required, waiting for the right moment for a peaceful atmosphere.”
April 5, 2025
It is a quite challenge to understand Jungian psychoanalysis, reading is the easiest part here. Honestly, I can say that I may have grasped only 10 percent of what Marie-Louise von Franz was driving at on this book. If my conscious mind was not understanding, my unconsciousness has certainly understood some part. As I was reading this book for a lengthy period of time, my dream recollection has increased. From all those dreams full of the symbols, it seems to be I have started my individuation process. My shadows and Self have manifested itself more, trying to interpret my dream has become new challenge to me. While trying to interpret it, I can't be too rational and take it easy and flexible etc. Who knows how all this leads? Any idea anyone?
While I was reading this book, you know what happened Donald Trump has announced world-wide tariffs and while all those havoc, I was trying to understand why those Americans have chosen this man to lead them. As someone outside from the USA, having some outside perspective and a beginner in Jungian I would apply him to be Trickster, no law nor rule works on him, he is set to challenge all. Strangely her take on the fall for fascist ideals of Germany are quite interesting. It seems to be history is set to be followed again, now under Trump.
I'm not going to follow into this thread of idea, all of you must be quite 'overstuffed' as news show nothing but this. It is more interesting than TV series.
Anyway, another thread of idea that we need to understand what is Collective Unconscious? rudimentary understanding is a must for modern individual. We are in area of Meta.
... don't know how to end this. My take would be whoever read this review, please read this book. It will be slow. But no Youtube video or podcast would be more fruitful than reading this book.
All socio and psychological questions arise whilst you read and you will be like a boy in the Alchemist in search of treasure, this time not treasure but understanding and knowledge.
Now onto the next book.
While I was reading this book, you know what happened Donald Trump has announced world-wide tariffs and while all those havoc, I was trying to understand why those Americans have chosen this man to lead them. As someone outside from the USA, having some outside perspective and a beginner in Jungian I would apply him to be Trickster, no law nor rule works on him, he is set to challenge all. Strangely her take on the fall for fascist ideals of Germany are quite interesting. It seems to be history is set to be followed again, now under Trump.
I'm not going to follow into this thread of idea, all of you must be quite 'overstuffed' as news show nothing but this. It is more interesting than TV series.
Anyway, another thread of idea that we need to understand what is Collective Unconscious? rudimentary understanding is a must for modern individual. We are in area of Meta.
... don't know how to end this. My take would be whoever read this review, please read this book. It will be slow. But no Youtube video or podcast would be more fruitful than reading this book.
All socio and psychological questions arise whilst you read and you will be like a boy in the Alchemist in search of treasure, this time not treasure but understanding and knowledge.
Now onto the next book.
July 27, 2017
Fast read through this book that i find fresh about "The Inferior Function". so i dig a bit more.
"The inferior function secretly and mischievously influences the superior function most of all, just as the latter represses the former most strongly. The inferior function is always of the same nature, rational or irrational, as the primary function: when thinking is most developed, the other rational function, feeling, is inferior; if sensation is dominant, then intuition, the other irrational function, is the fourth function, and so on. This accords with general experience: the thinker is tripped up by feeling values; the practical sensation type gets into a rut, blind to the possibilities seen by intuition; the feeling type is deaf to logical thinking; and the intuitive, at home in the inner world, runs afoul of concrete reality."
"Although the inferior function may be conscious as a phenomenon its true significance nevertheless remains unrecognized. It behaves like many repressed or insufficiently appreciated contents, which are partly conscious and partly unconscious. … Thus in normal cases the inferior function remains conscious, at least in its effects; but in a neurosis it sinks wholly or in part into the unconscious. "
from: http://frithluton.com/articles/inferi...
or http://personalityjunkie.com/the-infe...
Obviously, we are not complicated enough. (sigh)
"The inferior function secretly and mischievously influences the superior function most of all, just as the latter represses the former most strongly. The inferior function is always of the same nature, rational or irrational, as the primary function: when thinking is most developed, the other rational function, feeling, is inferior; if sensation is dominant, then intuition, the other irrational function, is the fourth function, and so on. This accords with general experience: the thinker is tripped up by feeling values; the practical sensation type gets into a rut, blind to the possibilities seen by intuition; the feeling type is deaf to logical thinking; and the intuitive, at home in the inner world, runs afoul of concrete reality."
"Although the inferior function may be conscious as a phenomenon its true significance nevertheless remains unrecognized. It behaves like many repressed or insufficiently appreciated contents, which are partly conscious and partly unconscious. … Thus in normal cases the inferior function remains conscious, at least in its effects; but in a neurosis it sinks wholly or in part into the unconscious. "
from: http://frithluton.com/articles/inferi...
or http://personalityjunkie.com/the-infe...
Obviously, we are not complicated enough. (sigh)
August 23, 2020
This is fantastic – and the essay on the end about the Puer Aeternus was a great compliment to her book of the same name, giving more depth to the problem. Actually, there were so many great essays in this book it's hard to choose my favorite.
June 26, 2013
The third book in a trilogy of collected writings,this volume is mainly dedicated to the psychology of personality types, as defined by C.Jung.The proposal is that individuation,and personal wholeness,is reached through the development of the inferior function by overcoming the dominance of the superior function,with help from the two auxiliary functions(there being four main functions in total),thus developing and integrating them all into a quaternary of psychic tools that are more accessible to the whole personality without the overall dominance of any one of them.
The remaining chapters cover ground that will be familiar to readers of any of the authors previous works and are somewhat shorter but no less informative.The topics covered include;Active Imagination,Attitudes towards the unconscious,Transference,Projection and Group Psychology.Although I have read the authors previous works on these subjects she managed to present them in a fresh way which seems to enhance the subjects without repeating herself,although some of the dream interpretations I found familiar from previous books.
As with most of M.L von Franz's work,she presents what would otherwise be tortuous academic theories in a manner that is intelligible and entertaining and brings the works of C.Jung to a wider audience.My main fear when purchasing this volume was that it would contain material already in publication but I found that not to be the case and I'd recommend it to anyone who has even a passing interest in psychology or personality types.
The remaining chapters cover ground that will be familiar to readers of any of the authors previous works and are somewhat shorter but no less informative.The topics covered include;Active Imagination,Attitudes towards the unconscious,Transference,Projection and Group Psychology.Although I have read the authors previous works on these subjects she managed to present them in a fresh way which seems to enhance the subjects without repeating herself,although some of the dream interpretations I found familiar from previous books.
As with most of M.L von Franz's work,she presents what would otherwise be tortuous academic theories in a manner that is intelligible and entertaining and brings the works of C.Jung to a wider audience.My main fear when purchasing this volume was that it would contain material already in publication but I found that not to be the case and I'd recommend it to anyone who has even a passing interest in psychology or personality types.
September 25, 2023
It is my second time reading this book after 4 years, where I was inspired to start painting as one of the therapy approach mentioned in the book to reflect the unconsciousness. Many things in the book get deeper and make more sense when I read it again.
Marie Louise describes, consolidated and elaborates really well Carl Jung’s theory, which usually really hard to read as raw. It involves lots of spiritual, dream and experience element to come to individualization. A person should become complete instead of perfect. The attitude of letting things happen and experience it. Very deep, spiritual, imaginary, abstract, and fascinating to describe the inner world and mental state.
Marie Louise describes, consolidated and elaborates really well Carl Jung’s theory, which usually really hard to read as raw. It involves lots of spiritual, dream and experience element to come to individualization. A person should become complete instead of perfect. The attitude of letting things happen and experience it. Very deep, spiritual, imaginary, abstract, and fascinating to describe the inner world and mental state.
February 1, 2011
Every book, thus far, written by von Franz has made a big difference in my life. This one clarifies the ultimate need for healing neurosis, whether the neurosis is familial, personal, or collective. She also defines what is required to proceed through individuation and in a nutshell - it is a deep and intense relationship with the Self, the divine, the transcendent.
March 20, 2016
The essays on the personality types were very helpful but the rest of it was geared more towards practicing analysts.
December 30, 2016
Recomand.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews